10 Up-and-Coming Brands You Need to Know

It's not exactly a bold claim to say that menswear is having a moment. One scroll through Instagram and it's obvious: More men care about their clothes than ever. Of course, that means it's getting harder to separate yourself from the style herd. Luckily, plenty of fresh labels will help you do exactly that. Whether you're trying to upgrade your office look or aiming to become the next street style god, here are 10 up-and-coming brands that should be on your radar.

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David Hart

Like Ralph Lauren, David Hart originally got his start in neckties. Today, the eponymous label of this Maryland native features a full ready-to-wear line that includes tailored suits and jackets, knitwear, and sportswear. And though the cuts are slim and modern, the aesthetic draws heavily from the 1950s jazz scene, with patterned trousers and jackets, cuffed denim and loafers, and two-toned sweaters and polo shirts. Clothes for the modern hepcat.

For London brand Casely Hayford, a blend of English sartorial tradition and modern punk rocker edge comes naturally. First, because the father-and-son design duo behind the brand—Joe Casely-Hayford and his son Charlie—brings two generational perspectives to the clothes. And second, thanks largely to their East London roots, it's simply embedded into their DNA. Joe, who once worked as creative director for Savile Row's Gieves and Hawkes, also designed stage costumes for bands like The Clash. The end result is an aesthetic that maintains the sharp look of classic tailoring, without compromising what their site calls, "the elements of anarchy all men possess within their character."

Kansas-based Baldwin started out with a focus on high-end denim and an Americana-infused spirit, but designer Matt Baldwin has slowly evolved into a full collection with just the right amount of urban edge. Jeans still feature heavily, complemented by unconstructed cotton blazers, bomber jackets, and wool trousers, and soft tees. And while the cuts tend to be modern, the affect is as timeless as you can get.

With Los Angeles becoming more of a fashion player, it shouldn't come as a surprise that this Venice-based brand has been making waves. Drawing inspiration from legendary deconstructionists like Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto, and Martin Margiela, Second/Layer founders Anthony Franco and Joshua and Jacob Willis combine a loose minimalism with California skater and Chicano aesthetics. It's a modern drapey silhouette, only without the over-cooked complexity that some brands can fall victim to.

In 2014, only two years before designer Demna Gvasalia was tapped for the position of creative director of Balenciaga, he launched his brand Vetements to the accolades of many in the fashion industry. Editors, street style stars, and Kanye West have all clamored for Gvasalia's loose, intentionally misshapen takes on basics like hoodies, tracksuits, and jeans. It's a style that's just left-of-center enough to stand out, but won't make you look like a cartoon.

"Bohemian hobo surf bum" is probably the best way to describe designer Thaddeus O'Neil's aesthetic. A Long Island native who grew up surfing, O'Neill began making clothes with fabrics he'd find on surf trips. Eventually he turned those one-offs into his namesake brand, featuring a full lineup of beachwear-inspired shirts, sweaters, board shorts, and pants. It's the sartorial equivalent of a lazy afternoon spent lying in a hammock on the beach.

Founded by Italian brothers Pierluigi and Mario Boglioli after leaving their eponymous Boglioli brand in 2013, The Gigi blends soft Italian tailoring with a modern urban aesthetic. Using advanced dying techniques, the brand produces jackets, shirts, and trousers in inky hues that turn down the volume on some of the noisier aspects of Italian sprezzatura. It's as if Band of Outsider was re-imagined by the Italians, which, considering the popularity of that now-defunct brand, is certainly a feather in The Gigi's cap.

Imagine classic American skater/streetwear by way of 1980s-era Soviet perestroika and you'll have some idea of Russian-born designer Gosha Rubchinskiy's namesake brand. Sweatshirts and tees with phrases printed in Cyrillic, '90s-style baggie jeans, and punk rock accents like military jackets and suspenders have made Rubchinskiy a favorite among the more fashion forward. And if you're already a fan of skate and hip hop style, this is definitely the label to give your look some edge.

Right from his first show at London Collections: Men in 2013, British designer Craig Green proved that he wasn't afraid to challenge the status quo. Known for his drapey, martial arts-inspired utility-wear, Green's designs have become a staple for the fashion-forward. The brand's more ambitious samurai-esque looks may not be for everyone, but there is still plenty to choose from to add a dash of adventure to a classic wardrobe.

Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough launched their brand in 2013 with the mission to re-imagine the men's suit, and that's exactly what they did. With slim silhouettes, streamlined lapels, knit underarm inserts, and a distinct lack of buttons, their modern take on the quintessential menswear garment garnered notice. Since then, they've moved into sportswear, translating that same tailored-meets-modernist aesthetic onto sleek trucker jackets and anatomically fitted knitwear.

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